At the Egg Harbor Township Police Activities League we know how difficult it can be to find safe and reliable childcare that is also fun and enriching for your child. Whether it’s childcare during long school breaks, before or after school, or during emergency school closures and minor holidays, we are here to support our community! In this blog, we’ll talk about the variety of childcare options we have available and hopefully answer some of your questions.
Before and After Care Options
Big PAL’s is our Before and After School Child Care program. Big PAL’s offers morning sessions, afternoon sessions, full day, and abbreviated sessions to provide childcare options for every parent’s needs. Our Before and After Care is held in our 14,000 square foot STEM building on a beautiful sprawling 35-acre campus with access to our 24,000 Crossplex with a turf field, rock-climbing wall, a fully equipped E-Sports room, a 14-inch telescope, and 3 outdoor pavilions. Our Before and After Care kids not only get homework help, but enjoy a variety of indoor/outdoor games, bounce houses, go-kart rides, basketball, gaga ball, wiffle ball, arts and crafts, and so much more!
Some Commonly Asked Questions
What activities will my child be participating in while being at Big PAL’s?
Your child will have the opportunity to complete their homework with help from our staff, and participate in our planned activities which will include laser tag, go-karts driven by PAL staff, arts & crafts, virtual reality, STEM-related activities, indoor/outside recreation, and nature walks around our 8 mile trails.
Who are the staff at Big PAL’s?
Each of our staff are experienced childcare providers. Each is CPR and first aid trained and have been successfully background checked.
How are the children grouped when being in the facility?
Members will be grouped by grade level: K/1st/2nd, 3rd/4th, 5th/6th and 7th/8th.
What are the staff to student ratios?
Our student to mentor ratio is 15 children to 1 adult.
How do I register my child to participate in Big PAL’s fun?
You may register your child online on our website www.ehtpal.org or you can come visit us at our main campus.
How will my child be transported from Big PAL’s to school in the morning and to Big PAL’s after school?
Children will be transported by Egg Harbor Twp. School District or PAL van, depending on what school your child attends.
Emergency Child Care
The Police Activities League of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County started the Emergency Child Program as a solution for parents who need childcare service for any emergency, including school closings due to inclement weather, that may arise.
Our Emergency Childcare Program is also available for parents who need their child(ren) in a childcare program just for the day, while they are busy with other matters, not necessarily an emergency situation. In either situation, emergency or non-emergency, we are available to meet the needs of parents in our community.
How Does the Emergency Childcare Program Work?
It can be difficult to plan ahead for childcare needs when emergency circumstances arise, especially for school closings due to inclement weather. Unfortunately, parents are usually informed of school closings the night before or early in the morning, giving little time to prepare for childcare. For most working parents, unless you have a short-notice babysitter, the only option when emergencies like this come forward is to take the day off of work. We want to provide a solution so parents aren’t forced to cancel commitments in the face of an emergency. We offer full-day, before, and after care services. Complete you registration for this program so that any day Monday through Friday, from 6:30 am to 6:00 pm, you will have access to our program.
School Break Camps
At EHT PAL, we strive to provide as much support as possible to our community members, which includes camps for every major school break! We have camps for Fall Break, Winter Break, Spring Break, and of course, Summer Break. Our Fall, Winter, and Spring camps are week-long camps held during the corresponding breaks during the school year. Over the summer we have a general summer camp, sports leagues, and STEM camps!
Our camps are held at our facility which is located on a beautiful sprawling 35 Acre Campus in Egg Harbor Township. We have over 40,000 square feet of enclosed building space with 3 outdoor pavilions. Our indoor space now includes 14,000 square foot Astro Turf field, Esports and Media Centers, a 14 inch telescope and rock climbing wall. We have indoor/outdoor games, watersides, bounce houses, activities and sports, laser tag, go-kart rides, basketball, gaga ball, volleyball, whiffle ball, arts and crafts, experiments, and so much more!
At our Award Winning Summer Camp, our campers discover the possibilities within themselves. We utilize a sophisticated social-emotional learning program where our campers learn: self-reflection and self-management; work with others to accomplish task-oriented goals; identify the strength of group members to accomplish goals; communicate effectively with peers; and increase empathy and compassion for others. Campers develop a stronger sense of possibilities within themselves by participating in a series of activities and events designed to tap into their social/emotional development, along with their intellectual and physical development, all while engaged in a fun-filled summer with their fellow campers. Our main goal for Summer Camp is to facilitate the growth of the whole person in each camper in a fun and enjoyable environment.
Do you have a child who’s at a transitional age that still needs to supervision but is gaining their independence? Our Junior Counselor in Training (JCIT) program is for your mature child is who not quite old enough to be left at home nor old enough for a paying job. They must be 14 or older to apply. JCIT candidates will be interviewed before being accepted into the training program as we are looking for mature and responsible candidates. Upon completion of the JCIT Program, campers will receive a 50% refund of their camp fee at the end of the summer. JCITs will be involved in all levels of activities, specifically assisting with daily camp operations and learning how to become a junior counselor.
Have More Questions?
If you still have more questions about any of our childcare options or are interested in learning more about our financial aid options and assistance agencies we partner with, we encourage you to contact us directly! You can call the PAL office at (609) 645-8413 or reach out to us via email at ehtpal@comcast.net
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